Eastern Cape Education MEC, Fundile Gade says more awareness programs are needed to educate young people on issues of cultural diversity and curb incidents of bullying.
This as the province has seen two suicide incidents involving learners in a space of four months.
A grade nine learner, Anothando Willie, from Xolani Senior Secondary School, in Zwelisha outside Qonce took her own life last week after allegedly being accused of practicing witchcraft.
In November 2021, A Bhisho High School grade 10 pupil committed suicide allegedly after being bullied and accused of practicing witchcraft.
File Video: Spotlight on the issue of bullying:
Speaking during a handover of a state-of-the-art school in Peddie, Gade says these incidents are worrying.
“It is becoming a thorn in the flash the issue of bullying in schools … at the heartbeat of that is the non acceptance of the diverse nation that we are. As a sector, we have to revisit some of the nation building project that we have. Probably there are building blocks that needed to be done for people to accept each other and accept the diverse nation that we are,” explains Gade.
VIDEO: Anti-bullying campaign by the EC Education Department
